Tomorrow

xxx

"I thought you'd be asleep by now."

Joe was astonished to find his brother sitting on the porch, and in the darkest corner at that, but he didn't let on as he sat down on the ground next to him, lifting his head to admire the star-flecked firmament above. The clean air was intoxicating, the fresh smell of the pines around them a stark contrast to the fragrances lingering inside.

Joe leant back and inhaled deeply. He had a good idea why his brother had come out here, and his next words confirmed his suspicion.

"Just needed to clear my head a bit."

Joe nodded in the darkness, then chuckled slightly when he remembered the look on his father's face at the discovery of Adam's absence.

"Pa was worried you'd disappeared again."

An amused snort was his answer.

"Not very likely." Adam settled himself more comfortably, brushing Joe's arm as he did, and Joe noticed how cool his brother's skin was. He must have been out longer than any of them had realized. But then, with all the hectic things going on inside that was not surprising.

"What were you doing out here? Some people wouldn't like it if you caught a chill." He grinned when he heard Adam chuckle.

"Probably not."

They shared the laugh for a moment, each remembering their father's behaviour on those occasions, then grew quiet again as they both watched the moon slowly disappear behind the horizon, the orb a dark glowing red in the dark blue surrounding it.

Joe softly nudged Adam. "Wanna tell me?" he asked quietly. From Adam's reticent answers it was clear that there was something bothering him, but Joe knew that on nights like this his brother was even more taciturn and pensive than usual.

At first he wasn't sure whether his brother was going to answer at all, but the night had worked her magic, and Adam spoke softly on the breath of the wind.

"Just saying good-bye." He shrugged as if there wasn't anything more to say.

Joe didn't know how to respond. Thoughts whirled in his mind, thoughts he couldn't place, couldn't grasp, but when he turned to look at Adam, he saw despite the darkness the tiny object in his brother's palm. A ring, Ruth's ring, and suddenly he understood.

"You're saying good-bye to them, aren't you?" he asked softly. In his mind he saw the women his brother had loved – Regina, Ruth, Laura – , women he had kissed, and lost, and gently he touched his shoulder.

"You'll be a wonderful husband to Rebecca. She'll be proud to have you," he whispered and was rewarded with a flash of a smile.

"And I'm lucky to have her." Adam's voice was suddenly husky, and Joe wondered just how nervous he really was.

"That you are."

Deciding it was high time to turn in, Joe playfully slapped Adam's shoulder and got up.

"Go to bed. You don't want to be late for your own wedding, do you?"

At this, Adam laughed out loud, the tension falling away with the familiarity of paternal concern that would never stop.

"Tell Pa I'll be right in."

xxx

The end